I remember when the San Diego comic con was only comic books, and I was in heaven. 1 1

[action1kid]

I remember when the San Diego Comic con was only comic books, and I was in heaven.

[Robot Man]

Me too…

My first one was the third one. I went to every one except a couple until I gave up about 6 years ago.

I’d look forward to it all year long.

But I’m over it now. 

[action1kid]

On 6/11/2023 at 10:19 AM, Robot Man said:

Me too…

My first one was the third one. I went to every one except a couple until I gave up about 6 years ago.

I’d look forward to it all year long.

But I’m over it now. 

At the Grant hotel . Downtown San Diego 1970. 1st one

[aardvark88]

Terry Stroud and Stephen Stroud told me this Easter 1971 flyer was 1 of the first comicons they sold at in Anaheim, not San Diego.

 

[aardvark88]

$3 admission and a great media and stellar comic guest list at Anaheim, CA 1971 after the first SDCC. Pop culture included sci-fi and horror (e.g. King Kong) movie themes, special FX.

 

[Robot Man]

On 6/11/2023 at 4:01 PM, aardvark88 said:

Terry Stroud and Stephen Stroud told me this Easter 1971 flyer was 1 of the first comicons they sold at in Anaheim, not San Diego.

 

Now, that was a guest line-up! All for $3. and FREE autographs. I never heard of that show or I would have gone with bells on!

[Robot Man]

The boards very own Mitch Mehdy at one of the earliest SDCC shows. Oh, how young we were once...

Remember that view?

 

[tth2]

On 6/12/2023 at 7:50 AM, Robot Man said:

The boards very own Mitch Mehdy at one of the earliest SDCC shows.

 

Was that the last time he showed one of his comic books?

[samfromcalifornia]

My most vivid memory from SD was in about 1985, when I had a dealers table. The second night, I was counting my meager income and totaling my excessive purchases, when my brother entered our room at the El Cortez with a couple "ladies of the evening", along with their "manager". It took a while to convince them to leave(all the time wondering if my demise would warrant a mention in the convention daily notes).

Another fun incident was at the original BayCon(1975  edition). There was a guy in a weird costume standing on a table selling development property on the moon. Also, at one point, I got talking to one the hotel managers and he explained that it was a temporary job, because he was going to go to law school, financed by Mafia boss Joe Bonanno, so that he could become a lawyer for the mob. If true, I suspect he didn't last long, as I understand the organization guidelines have a very strong anti-loose lips policy.

Eighteen hours a day conning, dealing, gabbing. Six hours of sleep, then start again. There's no substitute for youth.

A final word on SD ComicCon: When dealing in the mid-80's there, there were no one more kind and helpful then Tom and Virginia French. I've casually looked at some articles online about the history of the con and haven't seen a word about them, which seems odd to me.  Perhaps I got an incorrect impression about their role, but it's a shame that their efforts seem to be forgotten.

 

 

[Dark Knight]

Yea I wasn't born yet .  If I was old enough at that time, I 100% would've gone

[50YrsCollctngCmcs]

On 6/12/2023 at 11:14 AM, samfromcalifornia said:

My most vivid memory from SD was in about 1985, when I had a dealers table. The second night, I was counting my meager income and totaling my excessive purchases, when my brother entered our room at the El Cortez with a couple "ladies of the evening", along with their "manager". It took a while to convince them to leave(all the time wondering if my demise would warrant a mention in the convention daily notes).

Another fun incident was at the original BayCon(1975  edition). There was a guy in a weird costume standing on a table selling development property on the moon. Also, at one point, I got talking to one the hotel managers and he explained that it was a temporary job, because he was going to go to law school, financed by Mafia boss Joe Bonanno, so that he could become a lawyer for the mob. If true, I suspect he didn't last long, as I understand the organization guidelines have a very strong anti-loose lips policy.

Eighteen hours a day conning, dealing, gabbing. Six hours of sleep, then start again. There's no substitute for youth.

A final word on SD ComicCon: When dealing in the mid-80's there, there were no one more kind and helpful then Tom and Virginia French. I've casually looked at some articles online about the history of the con and haven't seen a word about them, which seems odd to me.  Perhaps I got an incorrect impression about their role, but it's a shame that their efforts seem to be forgotten.

 

 

Sure you California guys had the down at the heels El Cortez but back east nothing said it was summer to a young teen than talking Mom and Dad into letting you ride the bus or train up to  Phil Seuling's July 4th comic extravaganza. We not only got to experience the down at the heels Commodore Hotel but if you took the bus you had to make your way through the Port Authority. No finer hive of villainy and ne'er do wells must have existed on the planet (maybe Port Moresby). Once you ran the gauntlet of the bus station you had to navigate the filth of a summer NYC streetscape; the smells the humanity!! But heaven awaited inside that old down trodden hotel!! I still remember walking into the hall of my first show! Nothing like it before or since.

[aardvark88]

On 6/11/2023 at 4:45 PM, Robot Man said:

Now, that was a guest line-up! All for $3. and FREE autographs. I would have gone with bells on!

Crikey, I just read the fine print. $3 was admission for all three (3) days of this 1971 Anaheim comic con. Stick your nose close to several Frazetta oil on canvas paintings in wonderment and awe! Kirby not bad either, as he was debuting a portfolio of fresh characters. e.g. Darkseid, Mr. Miracle, Metron with Moebius chair, and Orion before the release of 'New Gods' #1. 

[lou_fine]

On 6/11/2023 at 6:22 PM, tth2 said:

Was that the last time he showed one of his comic books?

Yes, I believe so, especially after she stole than all while he was half asleep and in a drunken stupor one night: 

Ah.................those days of sweet innocence when young love was so great.  

[Cat-Man_America]

I started going to SDCC much later (2010 was my first, if memory serves) and I can share very fond memories of Rare High Grade parties, but my Wayback Machine goes back further in respect to comic conventions than those mentioned thus far, my first being HoustonCon in '69. No major celebs to speak of unless it was from the GA of radio, but the dealers room was eye opening. Meeting and hanging out with Bud Plant and Jerry Weist who became friends made this convention memorable too. Note: Also worth mentioning, when the dealers room closed down after dinner a sheet was put up on a far wall in the dealers room to screen the complete 12 Chapter serial King of The Rocketmen; that was my first serial experience.  

My main acquisitions that weekend ...based on recollection... were EC horror comics. This was also the convention where I met folks from a comic club in Oklahoma (my home state at the time) Wilt Conine, Bart Bush and Robert A. Brown ...three of the original members of OAF or Oklahoma Alliance of Fandom..., join and expand my collection dramatically over the next few years. I attended a number of monthly OAF swap meets and regional comic conventions during the summer months in Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston.

Have no idea how many daguerreotypes of me from conventions during this period are out there (shudder), but I've posted one of your's truly and Al Williamson posed at HoustonCon/StarTrekcon in '74 (I won't post it in this thread because it isn't from SDCC and I've posted it previously. For those who haven't seen it, Al is holding up one of my paintings and I'm the smiling geek with the Secret Agent Corrigan daily he gifted me).

I didn't meet Mitch until after he joined the CGC boards, introducing himself in his own inimitable fashion and our paths crossed at SDCC. Mitch's enthusiasm for comics reminds me a lot of John Verzyl's; that's meant as a compliment. John was a dear friend held in high esteem as both a comic dealer and steward of the culture. Mitch's longtime friendship with Theo Holstein greatly assisted in my acquisition of a couple of important pieces of art I sought for which I'm grateful. I know folks like to tease Mitch, and he's a good sport about it, but he does have a kewl GA collection that leans heavily into art. If he chooses to share images here I'm sure they'll impress collectors, but he tends to be a bit more private about displaying collectibles and I respect that choice. 

Edited June 15, 2023 by Cat-Man_America
Ale added!

[Primetime]

On 6/11/2023 at 7:05 AM, action1kid said:

I remember when the San Diego Comic con was only comic books, and I was in heaven.

[Duffman_Comics]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:01 AM, aardvark88 said:

Terry Stroud and Stephen Stroud told me this Easter 1971 flyer was 1 of the first comicons they sold at in Anaheim, not San Diego.

 

Great guest line up, but who on earth is "Carmen Infantino"?

[sfcityduck]

On 6/11/2023 at 11:22 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

.I know folks like to tease Mitch, and he's a good sport about it, but he does have a kewl GA collection that leans heavily into art. If he chooses to share images here I'm sure they'll impress collectors here, but he tends to be a bit more private about displaying collectibles and I respect that choice. 

Mitch is old school secret.  Nothing wrong with that. The guy certainly has owned some great stuff, including at one time Krigstein’s OA for Master Race. But lots of folks do not feel an obligation to posts books or OA here.  I really only post books that I either think are off the beaten path and have a good story or I plan to sell. 

[Robot Man]

I didn’t post those pictures of Mitch to mock or embarrass him. Just to show the fun, innocent times when SDCC was just so great.

I remember carpooling down from LA with friends. Paying the nice old lady at a card table my $5. Weekend pass. Piling a bunch of us into an El Cortez room. Eating at Denny’s because it was close and cheap. Away from our parents staying up late, drinking beer, smoking weed and playing poker with comics as chips. Hanging around the pool in the evenings listening to Kirby, Eisner and others swapping stories. And spending every dime I had in the dealer’s room.

One year I spent half of my entire budget on a GA Flash #1. Had to think long and hard about it. I was “the man” with my buddies. 

Great times that are gone forever…

 

[Randall Dowling]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:57 AM, Robot Man said:

I didn’t post those pictures of Mitch to mock or embarrass him. Just to show the fun, innocent times when SDCC was just so great.

I remember carpooling down from LA with friends. Paying the nice old lady at a card table my $5. Weekend pass. Piling a bunch of us into an El Cortez room. Eating at Denny’s because it was close and cheap. Away from our parents staying up late, drinking beer, smoking weed and playing poker with comics as chips. Hanging around the pool in the evenings listening to Kirby, Eisner and others swapping stories. And spending every dime I had in the dealer’s room.

One year I spent half of my entire budget on a GA Flash #1. Had to think long and hard about it. I was “the man” with my buddies. 

Great times that are gone forever…

Sounds like a life well lived. 

[aardvark88]

On 6/12/2023 at 3:32 AM, Duffman_Comics said:

Great guest line up, but who on earth is "Carmen Infantino"?

Blame the typo on the Disney Nostalgia Con co-organizers Jerry O'Hara and David T. Alexander. Robt Beerbohm drove in to Anaheim, CA and was vending vintage comics in April 1971.

Fun fact: that Kirby 8 plate 'Deities' portfolio was created from superheroes Kirby dreamed up in the late 1960's while still at Marvel. Later published by DC as the Fourth World titles: New Gods, etc.